Term 1 Week 9 Newsletter #05

Term 1 Week 9                                30 March 2023                                     Newsletter# 05

Principal’s Message

Tena Koutou Katoa  Talofa Lava   Kamusta   Malo e lelei,  Mauri   Malo ni   Faka talofa atu  Namaste  Greetings to all

I hope you have noticed our centennial mural which is being painted on the end of Room 9 facing Seddon St. Our mural artist Brigita, from Manabelle, is very talented and doing an amazing job. You can see some of her other work about town.

It is great to see your engagement in our child/parent/teacher goal-setting interviews tonight and next Tuesday. Remember to bring your child with you. This is another occasion where our teachers work beyond the school day to benefit our students. 

Today at school, Fr Robert and five visiting priests have provided an opportunity for our children to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Rite II is a lovely way to experience this sacrament in preparation for Easter. This Sunday is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. I hope you are able to join some of these liturgies in our school and parish.

I want to congratulate our teachers who recently received their RE certificates for additional study they did last year and to acknowledge their experience in Catholic schools. Alongside this, I would like to congratulate Mrs Lori Mravicich who completed her Master’s in Contemporary Education last year and has her graduation ceremony tomorrow. We are very proud of her.

As we end our first term of 2023, we farewell Mr Alan Surrey (Ako 1 Year 3/4 teacher). Some of you may know that Alan is joining his fiance in America to be married and settle there. Alan has been teaching at St Joseph’s since 2016 and has been a valuable and popular member of our teaching team. In particular, Alan has been integral in the implementation of our digital literacy programme and in taking our after-school STEAM Club. He has also been a Within School Lead Teacher for our COL and our school has benefitted greatly by having him on our staff. We wish him every blessing as he and his new wife begin a new life adventure together,

We also wish Ms Claudia Farrell all the best as she leaves to go on maternity leave in Term 3. We wish Claudia all the best as she embarks on this exciting time in her life. We are fortunate to be able to fill Alan and Claudia’s teaching positions by reshuffling some of our teachers and bringing back some of our past staff.

To add to this, I have a principal’s sabbatical and will be away from school in Term 2. Mrs Lori Mravicich will be the acting principal during the term, supported by Mrs Robin Burns our assistant principal. The school will be in very capable hands and I am sure the term will run very smoothly and you won’t even miss me. During my sabbatical, I am completing an inquiry as well as travelling with my husband overseas to visit my daughter.

On Monday 24 April, our teachers will attend the Franklin Schools New Zealand Curriculum Launch at Pukekohe Race Park. Our district has chosen to join and work collaboratively for the first Ministry of Education Teacher Only Day to support significant changes in curriculum and assessment. It will involve 46 schools, over 500 teachers, three Kahui Ako, and our local RTLB. It will be an exciting event and because of the size of this gathering, the media will be present.

On that day, Monday 24 April, our school office will be open as usual from 8:30 – 3:30 pm.  Term 2 starts for children on Wednesday 26th April; the day after ANZAC Day. You have an extra long Easter term break ahead and I hope you are able to enjoy this with your family.

Wishing you and your family a happy and holy Easter.

KEY DATES

          TERM 1 KEY DATES

Please note these dates are subject to change For further dates see calendars on the Skool Loop app or at: www.stjosephs.co.nz

Special Catholic Character

St Patrick’s Sacramental Programme

For baptised students in Y4-8 wanting to make their 
First Communion and Confirmation.
This will start after the Easter holiday break at the start of Term 2.
The sessions will be held on Sunday afternoon. 
Enrolment forms are available from St Joseph’s School office or the Parish Office.

Stations of the Cross: Next Thursday 6 April, 11.30am in the hall – All welcome!

Values Award Recipients from Tabloid Sports

Ella Newby Leadership – For gently helping a child new to school try activities at Tabloid sports. With your kindness they felt confident  enough to join in. You didn’t give up with the first ‘no” 
Lauren Hartland: Leadership – For her love and patience helping new children take a risk and have fun with Tabloid sports activities. You supported them by taking them by the hand and doing it with them.
Quinn Robinson: Leadership –  For being mindful of how younger children might find the rush and excitement overwhelming. You encouraged and praised them. You helped younger children complete Tabloid sports and have fun doing so.
Peni Helu: Leadership and Love – The way he supported all the akōnga in his group was beautiful. 
Rupert Archer: Leadership – You remained positive and energetic throughout, showing great team spirit.
Elijah Koaneti: Aroha and Arahi – You displayed love and leadership during Tabloid Sports by the way you encouraged and cheered on all of the students.
Apenisa Lesavua: Aroha – helping anyone and everyone throughout the day, especially packing up at the end.
Ashtrod Padilla: Aroha – For being supportive to students who were feeling unsure on the different activities they were to do. You provided encouraging words and you were always willing to assist them 

Whanau Feedback Forms in RE Books:  This coming Friday or Monday, your child will bring home their RE book for you to view some of their learning in our Lent and Jesus Strands this term. There will be a slip glued in there for your comments and feedback. This is direct feedback for you to write for your child, showing your response to what they have been learning. Your encouragement is important for their growth in knowledge and faith.

School-Assisted Mass

There was a wonderful turnout for our Term 1 School-Assisted Mass, in honour of St. Joseph and St. Patrick. Our School Leaders made us proud with the way they lead the readings and prayers. We opened with the special anthem “Hail Glorious St. Patrick” Our Aroha Students lead the Psalm beautifully, singing and role-playing the “My Name is Joseph Song” by Andrew Chinn. Rupert Archer played the cello at Communion, playing the Back Arioso. Simon Vicente accompanied our hymns on guitar, and Davina West on the organ. Twelve Year 8  students accompanied on ukulele. Our Kapa Haka Group performed He Honore for the Communion Reflection, and we finished with a lively and energetic song called Go Out! by Drew Lane. Our Ako 1 and 2 tamariki lead the offertory procession, bringing some of our Lent RE artwork to the altar. Thank you to all who participated in this special Mass. 

Holy Week and Easter: As we prepare for Easter we remember the events leading to Jesus’ death on the cross on Holy Week. This Sunday (Palm Sunday) marks the beginning of Holy Week. There will be a Palm Sunday Liturgy held here at school on Monday at 1:45pm in our school hall, lead by Ako 1. Then on Thursday our Arahi Team will present the Stations of the Cross liturgy at 11.30 am. We would love for you to join us as we acknowledge the Stations of the Cross in preparation for Easter Weekend.
We strongly encourage you to participate in Holy Week and Easter Sunday liturgies and Masses in our Parish. The schedule is below in Community Notices.

Caritas Lent Appeal
Thank you everyone who has already given to the Caritas Lent Appeal 2023, helping Caritas deliver aid and development, and advocate for justice, around the world. Here is a video message supporting the appeal from Archbishop Paul Martin SM, Bishop Michael Gielen and Bishop Michael Dooley.

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REWqca-ZgTc

 Donations to the Lent Appeal can be made here: https://www.caritas.org.nz/lent

School Board

We would like to introduce our Board of Trustees for 2023.  

Elected Trustees: Denis Murphy (Presiding Member/Chair), Elvira Balle (Deputy Chair), Michael Noble, Carla Van Tiel, Luke Kneebone.
Proprietor Representatives: Father Robert Steele, Alan Murillo, Losa Helu, and Nicola Hewitt (Secretary).  
We welcome Nicola Hewitt onto the Board of Trustees as our newly selected Proprietors Representative. 

Congratulations to the following teachers who have attained the following
qualifications from Te Kupenga, the Catholic National Centre for Religious Studies.

Religious Education(Classroom Level): Claudia Farrell
Religious Education ( Leadership Level): Elroy Muller, Bridget Hartland, Joanna Wilcox, Kerri Egelmeer
Catholic Special Character and Religious Education (Leadership) Endorsement: Ursula Hall, Lori Mravicich, Linda Sokimi, Mairead Gallagher, Lesley Wallace.

If you would like to contact the Board directly at any time, please do so through bot@stjosephs.co.nz

School Notices

Health and Safety – Pedestrian crossing works are beginning again and there will be congestion and road closures – children will not be able to leave by our main gate.  They will leave by the staff car park gate (South) or the small cemetery gate (North). We ask that you try to use Dublin street as an alternative.  Please do not use the school car park for pick up/drop off. We are hoping the bulk of the work will be completed before we return to school in Term 2. 

Winter Uniform: From the beginning of Term 2  all students are expected to be in winter uniforms. 

Girls: Green tartan pinafore/skirt. Years 0-4 wear a pinafore, Year 5-8 girls wear a skirt at least knee length which is the same material as the pinafore.
White Blouse – Year 0- 4 girls wear a white winter weight school blouse and Year 5–8 girls wear a white  school blouse which is a short sleeved blouse with a split hem. 
White ankle or knee-high socks and black leather/waterproof school shoes.

Boys: Grey shorts (heavy weight)
Grey Polo shirt with logo, long or short sleeved.
Grey knee length socks and black leather/waterproof school shoes.

School Jersey/Polar Fleece: For boys and girls.  This is a regulation green woollen jersey/or polar fleece. 
Polar Fleece Vest: Boys and girls may wear the school green polar fleece vest as an optional extra.  
School Beanie: Terms 2 & 3 only.  Please note no other type of beanie or winter hat should be worn. 
Optional: Green ‘Stormdri’ Jacket with school logo. It is for outdoor use and is not permitted to be worn in class. 

Teacher Only Day Monday 24th April – School Office open 8.30am – 3.30pm

Term 2 Begins Wednesday 26th April

School Events 

Community Notices

“Seasons For Growth is a grief, loss and change programme for children dealing with challenges in their lives e.g separation, divorce, death or other big family changes. Our next Afterschool Programme starts in Term 2, in May. It will run during the week from 4pm-5pm over 8 weeks of the school term, at St Andrews Church hall in Pukekohe. A Parent Programme also runs at the same time. For enquiries or enrolments please phone/text Marisa Skilton on 021 142 5812, office on 238 7228, or contact me at seasonsfranklin@xtra.co.nz. For more info go towww.pukekohecommunityaction.co.nz/seasons.”

Young at Art’ offer Children’s, Teens & Adult Art classes in Pukekohe.  Our Autumn Holiday workshops are open for booking.  These holidays we are offering Papier Mache, Acrylic & Watercolour Painting, Tie Dye and other techniques, Mixed Media and Sun Painting workshops, Term 2 ART ADVENTURES after school classes are open for booking in groups for children aged 6-9yrs, 9-12yrs and 13yrs+ on Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s. If there is no space in your chosen class, please email Anna to join the waiting list we often have an odd spot come up at the beginning of term. Adult workshops include a family Watercolour the day before mothers day, Resin Art & Resin Cheeseboards . For more information or to book please check out:   http://www.youngatart.co.nz/ / email: admin@youngatart.co.nz.  Bookings are essential as places are limited’.

St Patrick’s Church – Holy Week & Easter Sunday

Please support our Fun Fair sponsors – they support us!